Head of Americas regional bloc seeks Venezuela’s ouster

SANTO DOMINGO, Dom. Rep. (AA) - The head of the Organization of American States (OAS) on Tuesday called for an emergency meeting with the Permanent Council of the regional bloc to analyze “the alteration of the democratic order” of Venezuela.

Luis Almagro made the request invoking the organization’s Democratic Charter that gives him the authority to “seek a collective opinion on the situation and take appropriate decisions”.

Under the charter, Venezuela could be suspended from the organization if two-thirds of the 34-member group believes it has seriously undermined its own democracy.

Venezuela is “in risk of falling into a situation of illegitimacy” if changes are not made at the executive branch level, Almagro said in a statement addressed to council president Juan José Arcuri.

The OAS chief asked for a meeting next month to consider the allegations “of constitutional order alteration” made by the National Assembly of Venezuela, the opposition majority and from conclusions drawn by Almagro.

“Venezuela has lost the purpose of the policy. Forgot to defend the long-term collective good instead of short-term individual good,” he added in the letter published on the OAS website.

Venezuelan opposition had asked the OAS to invoke the Democratic Charter alleging “institutional and a humanitarian crisis" in the country.